Floating curren-tmotor



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W. MAIN-- FLOATING CURRENT MOTOR. v No. 328,497. Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

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FLOATING GURRENT MOTOR. No. 328,497. Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

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Patented oct. 20,1885.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

VILLIAM MAIN, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE RIVER AND RAIL ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY, OF OHIO COUNTY, VEST VIRGINIA.

FLOATING CURREN-TMOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part; of Letters Patent No. 328,497, dated October 20, 1885.

Application filed July '25, 1885. Serial No. 172,663. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, WILLIAM MAIN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Floating Current-Motors, of which the following is a specification, and which I designate as Case D.

My invention relates to that form of currentmotors in which the power is derived from floats attached to chains passing over sprocket-wheels, and has for its chief object to construct a power mechanism of this character which shall be capable of easy adjustment to 15 different depths of water, and which can be readily applied to ordinary scows and fiat boats, not requiring,as is usually the case with current-motors, a iioating support especially constructed for it.

To this end my invention consists in certain details of construction, hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed and forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a side perspective view of my improved mechanism as it appears when attached to the rear of a scow or flatboat anchored ina current of flowing water; Fig. 2a plan view of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, a side elevation and a plan view partly in section of the main shaft about which the swinging frame revolves and sprocket-wheels mounted thereon upon a larger scale. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modification in which the power mechanism is mounted in a water-way which passes through a double float, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same.

The main shaft of the machine 1 rotates in bearings 2, which bearings are parts of two iron caps terminating the longitudinal top timbers of the scow. Each of these caps has an inwardly-projecting sleeve,3, which sleeves serve as arbors for the swinging frame, the latter being designated by figures 4 4.

The main frame carries three sets of sprocket-wheels, the first set of two wheels, 5 5, affording a support for the chains 6, carrying the iioats 7 ,which are pivoted to the chains at one edge by means of flat bars 8, bolted to the 50 floats and provided with eyes through which pivot 9 passes. Two other sets of sprocketwheels, 10 and 11, are mounted, respectively, on arbors carried by shafts connecting the triangular frames at their two remaining angles and afford further support for the chains 6. 5:

It will be observed that the useof the sleeves y 3 as arbors for the swinging frame, instead of journaling the frame directly upon the main shaft relieves the shaft ofthe weightand friction of the frame and permits the position of the 6c frame to be changed, as desired, without in any way interfering with the operation of the shaft.

The main shaft 1 carries aseeond set of two sprocket wheels, 12 12, through which the 6: power developed by the water-power mechanu ism is transmitted by means of chains or belts to pulleys on the shaft 13, journaled in bearings upon the scow. Motion-multiplying connections 14, 15, 16, 17, and .18 convey the 7c power from the shaft 13 to a dynamo, 19, or any other machinery.

A third set of sprocket or finger wheels, 20, of which two are shown in the drawings, are carried by the main shaft. These wheels have a double function, first, to 'gradually lift the hinged floats as they pass over the sprocketwheels 5, thus preventing the sudden drop of these blades through their whole arc of motion upon their rests 21, and relieving the 8o chain from the effects of the shock which would otherwise accompany the return of the floats to their working position. The second function of these finger-wheels is to hold the floats against their rests as they enter the wa- 8= ter and prevent their being raised and thrown V back against the chain by the eddying action of the water beneath the wheel before the float feels the force of the current upon its face. One of the lingers of the sprocket-wheels 9o 20 is shown in the upper part of Fig. 3 as 1ifting one of the floats, and in the lower part of the same iigure another of the sprocket-fingers is shown in a position to prevent the backward motion of the float about entering 95 the water.

The hinged frame is suspended at its outer end by means of a chain, 22, attached to arms 23, projecting from the hubs in which the shaft carrying sprocket-wheels 10 is journaled and Ico connected, by means of pulley-blocks and ropes, with a windlass, 27, fixed to the scow.

The upper pulley-block of this hoisting mechp anism is carried by the A-shaped frame 24, journaled to the deck at 25 25, and held in position by stay-rods 26. It is obvious that by turning the windlass a proper degree of immersion may be given to the frame, and the power mechanism be .thus adapted as desired todifferent depths of water. Y

I have shown in Figs. 5 and 6 a modified form substantially similar to that heretofore described, except that the power mechanism is in this case mounted between the parts of a double float instead of to the rear of a single float. The operation of the various parts being in other respects precisely the same as that already described, further explanation is unnecessary. A float of the form shown in this modification would be more expensivetoconstruct than the form previously described, but would possess the'advantages of enabling a simpler form of hoisting apparatus to -be used, as indicated in the figure, and of affording a water-Way for the power mechanism into which the currentcould be turned, if desired, by deflecting surfaces.

While I have shown my swinging frame as triangular in form, it is obviousthat this particular shape is not an essential feature of my invention, since other forms of frames having, for instance, four or more angles, might be used, if desired.

I claim- 1. The combination, with. the main shaft of a power mechanism, of journals forsaid shaft,

mechanism through which theV power of theI shaft moving in xed journals tis applied to the driven mechanism.

3. In a water-power mechanism, the combination of a floating support, a shaft journaled thereon, frames journaled concentrically with but independently of said shaft, sprocket- Wheels mounted on said frames, endless chains carrying floats supported by said sprocket- Wheels, and means for raising and lowering the free ends of said frames, substantially as described and shown.

4. The combination, with ascow or flat-boat of whichthe main top timbers proj ect beyond one end, of metal caps forsaid timbers, ashaft journaled in said caps, and a water-power mechanism pivoted concentrically with said shaft and geared thereto, substantially as described and shown.

5. The combination, with a boat or scow of which the main upper longitudinal timbers extend beyond one end, of metal caps for said timbers, a shaft journaled in said caps, frames a-rbored on sleeves projecting from said caps, sprocket-wheels mounted in said frames, and chains carrying floats supported by the sprocket-wheels, substantially as described and shown.

6. The combination of frames of the shape of right-angled triangles carrying sprocket-V Wheels arbored at the angles thereof, said frames being placed with their shorter sides in and perpendicular to the surface of the frames and endless chains carrying floats supported by the Wheels, substantially as describedand shown. 4 v

In-testimony whereof I subscribe my name inthe presence oftwo Witnesses.

WILLIAM MAIN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. DE LANcEY, EDW. E. GAFFNEY. 

